Clinical and histological features of fixed drug eruption: a single-centre series of 73 cases with comparison between bullous and non-bullous forms
Émilie Perron, A. Viarnaud, Lea Marciano, Raymond Karkouche, Janine Wechsler, Nicolas de Prost, O. Chosidow, P. Wolkenstein, S. Oro, Nicolás Ortonne
Abstract
The clinical and pathological aspects of fixed drug eruption (FDE) have been described based on a few case series. To compare bullous FDE (BFDE) and non-bullous FDE (NBFDE) and to determine whether BFDE can be histologically distinguished from other dermatoses presenting with an apoptotic pan-epidermolysis. In this retrospective monocentre study (2005-2016), FDE was classified as BFDE or NBFDE and localized (one anatomical site) or generalized (≥ two sites; GBFDE). Clinical data were extracted from charts, and images were reviewed. Skin biopsies were analysed and compared to the clinical presentation. Three dermatopathologists, blinded to the final clinical diagnosis, evaluated a subset of BFDE cases (n = 8) and 25 biopsies of other bullous diseases known to have an epidermal necrolysis (EN)-like pattern. In total, 73 patients were included in the study. Patients with BFDE (n = 58; GBFDE n = 48) were significantly older (p < 0.001). All patients with GBFDE were hospitalized; 25 had a complication (infectious; n = 19), and eight died (median age: 80). Histology revealed spongiotic (6.7%), interface dermatitis (48.3%) and EN-like (66.3%) patterns. The EN-like pattern was more frequent in BFDE than NBFDE (74% vs 27%; p = 0.008). Melanophages (100% vs 66%; p = 0.02) and massive dermal melanosis (40% vs 4%; p = 0.0005) were more prominent in NBFDE than BFDE. BFDE could not be reliably distinguished from other bullous diseases with EN-like patterns. BFDE belongs to the spectrum of skin conditions with an EN pattern, for which the concept of acute syndrome of apoptotic pan-epidermolysis (ASAP) was previously introduced. Clinical-pathological correlation is mandatory for a diagnosis of BFDE.